German 37mm

[orcutteod]

Enclosed are pictures of my first German 37mm this shell is fairly tough to find in my neck of the wood. Any information would be appreciated. The base of the shell appears to have an Luftwaffe stick bird symbol. The projectile appears to be Army Waffenamt marked.

 

[HAZORD]

Does the projectile come out of the case, or is the neck too tight to be able to get it out? A photo of the projo base would be nice.

 

[orcutteod]

The projectile is to tight to remove. I tried doing it with my hand and ended up flaking off what remaining paint that'a left.

 

[StielGr]

It is a 3.7cm Flak 18 case fitted with what looks like a 3,7cm Brsprgr.Patr. v. L'spur projectile. At least that is what the paint colour and markings would suggest but it would be interesting to hear from others if the paintwork is original.

The AZ39 fuze is a normal percussion fuze which is not normally used for a Flak projectile.

PC

 

[EOD]

The painting is original.

 

[Woozz]

Hi

orcutteod
​

and others,

I think your 3,7cm round might be made for the Stuka canon pod as the cartridge has only 1 crimp and give s an answer to the presence of the percussion fuse.?

Greets
Woozz

 

[EOD]

Most steel cases had only one crimp as the extraction force is higher than with brass.

I hear that "Stuka" story so often that I wonder who created and eagerly spread that myth - must be an auction thing to beat more money out of clueless people.

 

[StielGr]

Unfortunately it is unlikely to be a BK shell case as all 3.7cm Flak cases from about the end of 43 had only one crimp ring.

Regards
PC

 

[Tony Williams]

I hear that "Stuka" story so often that I wonder who created and eagerly spread that myth - must be an auction thing to beat more money out of clueless people.

I would have thought they would use standard Flak HE ammo for the Stuka - as the Luftwaffe had piles of it already on the shelf, why do anything else?

The tungsten-cored AP shot in the Flak case is a different matter. AFAIK this was only used in the Stuka, but I am happy to be informed otherwise.

 

[EOD]

The one shown above is a regular AA round. I do not see much sense in using this one in air.
The Stuka (tank buster - here the Ju-87 only as a Stuka is usually a dive bomber what the Ju-87 also was) used the APHC types and the "destroyers" (bomber hunters) used the "M-Geschoss".

 

[Tony Williams]

The one shown above is a regular AA round. I do not see much sense in using this one in air.
The Stuka (tank buster - here the Ju-87 only as a Stuka is usually a dive bomber what the Ju-87 also was) used the APHC types and the "destroyers" (bomber hunters) used the "M-Geschoss".

I recall reading that the Ju-87G was sometimes used to attack targets other than tanks (small naval craft, for instance) and for such missions they were loaded with HE.

 

[Nabob]

The one shown above is a regular AA round. I do not see much sense in using this one in air.
The Stuka (tank buster - here the Ju-87 only as a Stuka is usually a dive bomber what the Ju-87 also was) used the APHC types and the "destroyers" (bomber hunters) used the "M-Geschoss".

I do not see much sense using a round with AZ39 (without SD) for AA.
The LDv 4000/10 lists this combat ammunition:
3,7cm M-Gesch.Patr.18 L'spur m. Zerl.
3,7cm Brsprgr.Patr. v.Lspur
3,7cm Sprgr.Patr.18 Lspur m.Zerl
all with 3,7cm Kpf Z Zerl (Fg or P.v.)

I wouldnt like to have rounds riccocheting from the target with SD fuze when sitting in the Stuka so here the AZ39 makes sense.

@Tony: Yes I remember it too but I dont remember if it was Flying Guns or Rapid Fire

Bob

 

[Nabob]

I just found a document that is describing belting of ammunition.
for 3,7cm BK it gives 2x Sprgr, 1x M-Gesch, 1x Brsprgr for ground targets and only H-Pzgr for tanks.
It is a modern document the author is "butch2k from AAW" .

@Tony: Its Flying guns II page 138 bottom right
Awesome books, they are great reference source for me.

Bob

 

[pzgr40]

For comparison, here the M-geschoss:

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threa...ate-Flak-18-36-37-cutaway-model-and-questions

Regards, DJH

 

[StielGr]

I do not see much sense using a round with AZ39 (without SD) for AA.

I wouldnt like to have rounds riccocheting from the target with SD fuze when sitting in the Stuka so here the AZ39 makes sense.

Bob

It is my own fault for not making my original point clearer in my first post (#4) but as with any shell all the components will most likely have been swapped around at some time during it's past. Therefore it is unlikely the AZ39 is the original fuze fitted during production. For example a dealer/collector may just replace a missing fuze with whatever he has available and fits the threads.

PC